State of Mississippi

Phil Bryant

Office of the Governor

P.O. Box 139

Jackson, MS 39205-0849

(601) 359-3449

THE

GREAT SEAL OF THESTATE OFMISSISS

PI PI

IN GOD WE TRUST

2016 - 2019

State of Mississippi

Delta Region Development Plan
Page 2

Mississippi Delta Region Planning and Development Districts 

Central Mississippi Planning 

and Development District 

P.O. Box 4395 

Jackson, MS 39296-4935 

7 DRA Counties: Copiah, 

Hinds, Madison, Rankin, 

Simpson, Warren, Yazoo 

North Delta Planning and 

Development District 

115 Eureka St. 

Batesville, MS 38606 

7 DRA Counties: Coahoma, 

DeSoto, Panola, Quitman, 

Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica 

Southern Mississippi 

Planning and Development 

District

9229 Hwy 49 

Gulfport, MS 39503 

3 DRA Counties: Covington, 

Jefferson Davis, Marion 

East Central Planning and 

Development District 

P.O. Box 499 

Newton, MS 39345 

2 DRA Counties: Jasper, 

Smith 

North East Mississippi 

Planning and Development 

District

619 E. Parker Dr. 

Booneville, MS 38829 

3 DRA Counties: Benton, 

Marshall, Tippah 

Southwest Mississippi 

Planning and Development 

District

1703 Bridewell Ln. 

Port Gibson, MS 39150 

10 DRA Counties: Adams, 

Amite, Claiborne, Franklin, 

Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, 

Pike, Walthall, Wilkinson 

Northcentral Mississippi 

Planning and Development 

District

28 Industrial Park Blvd. 

Winona, MS 38967 

7 DRA Counties: Attala, 

Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, 

Leflore, Montgomery, 

Yalobusha

South Delta Planning and 

Development District 

P.O. Box 1776 

Greenville, MS 38702-1776 

6 DRA Counties: 

Bolivar, Humphreys, 

Issaquena, Sharkey, 

Sunflower, Washington 

Three Rivers Planning and 

Development District 

75 S. Main St. 

Pontotoc, MS 38863 

2 DRA Counties: Lafayette, 

Union

Mississippi Delta Region Planning and Development Districts
Page 3

Table of Contents

Mississippi Delta Region Planning and Development Districts ........................................... 2

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 4

SECTION A: MISSISSIPPI CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ............................. 5

POPULATION .................................................................................................................. 6

INCOME ........................................................................................................................... 8

EDUCATION ................................................................................................................. 10

INDUSTRY SECTORS .................................................................................................. 11

SECTION B: GOALS, PRIORITIES AND PROGRAMS ................................................ 12

PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE ...................................................................................... 12

INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION ......................................................................... 12

WORKFORCE TRAINING ........................................................................................... 13

COMMUNITY COMPETITIVENESS .......................................................................... 14

SECTION C: ALIGNMENT OF STATE PRIORITIES WITH DRA ............................... 15

SECTION D: STATE RESOURCES ................................................................................. 16

Education Successes ....................................................................................................... 16

Community & Health Successes ..................................................................................... 16

Economic Successes ....................................................................................................... 16

Workforce Development Successes ................................................................................ 17

SECTION E: LOOKING AHEAD ..................................................................................... 18

Table of Contents

cover photo: Vicksburg Bridge Over the Mississippi Morning Damian Entwistle
Page 4

INTRODUCTION

In 2001, Congress established the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) to address the chronic 

economic distress that denies the eight-state region full partnership in America’s future. Congress 

issued a mandate for the Authority to address this economic dilemma through advocacy, 

assessment, regional planning, research, and grant making. 

The Authority is comprised of the Governors of the eight DRA states and a Federal CoChair, Christopher Masingill, appointed by the President. The Federal Co-Chair has one vote and 

the eight Governors each have one vote, requiring all matters to be decided by both the Federal 

Co-Chair and a majority of the Governors. The consensus model ensures close collaboration 

between the federal and state partners in carrying out the DRA mission. The DRA headquarters is 

in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Michael Marshall (Missouri) serves as the Alternate Federal Co-Chair 

of the DRA.

The DRA is a partnership of federal, state, and local governments. This Federal-StateLocal partnership provides the structure to accomplish the mission, goals, and objectives set forth 

by the Authority to accomplish its Congressional mandate. Because of its partnership approach, 

DRA can identify innovative cross-agency initiatives and serve as a strategic investment partner. 

Within this framework of shared decision-making, each state adapts and designs programs to 

meet the needs at the local level. 

Governor Phil Bryant is the State of Mississippi’s representative to the DRA and is 

serving as the State Co-Chair. The responsibility for the administration of the DRA program 

within Mississippi lies with the Office of the Governor in Jackson. Governor Bryant has 

appointed, Alice T. Perry, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Governor, as his Alternate to 

DRA. State leaders work in a collaborative manner with local planning and development districts 

(PDDs), economic development organizations, local communities, and other state agencies in the 

development of eligible projects to address the needs in the 47 Mississippi DRA counties. 

Governor Bryant’s top priority for Mississippi is job creation. With that overarching goal 

in mind, his other priorities are workforce development, quality education at all levels, and 

sustainable communities with a high quality of life. These priorities reflect DRA’s mission, 

principles, and priorities. Mississippi will focus (1) Public Infrastructure; (2) Intermodal 

Transportation; (3) Workforce Training; and (4) Community Competitiveness. This will be 

particularly true for the distressed counties and isolated regions of the Mississippi Delta Region. 

In accordance with the DRA governing statute, this document will serve as the State of 

Mississippi’s Delta Region Development Plan. It was developed with information and input from 

the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) staff and their partners and with assistance from 

the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. 

INTRODUCTION
Page 5

SECTION A: MISSISSIPPI CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 

The Mississippi portion of the federally designated Mississippi Delta Region consists of 

the following 47 counties – 43 of them distressed, four non-distressed (based on the 2015 

calculation for distressed county designation). Distressed designations are amended annually 

based on new data. To be deemed distressed, counties and parishes must meet one of the 

following criteria: 

1. An unemployment rate of one percent higher (8.3 percent) than the national average 

(7.3 percent) for the most recent 24-month period; or 

2. Have a per capita income of 80 percent or less of the national per capita income. 

DISTRESSED

Adams

Amite

Attala

Benton

Bolivar

Carroll

Claiborne

Coahoma

Copiah

Covington

Franklin

Grenada

Holmes

Humphreys

Issaquena

Jasper

Jefferson

Jefferson Davis

Lafayette 

Lawrence

Leflore

Lincoln

Marion

Marshall

Montgomery

Panola

Pike

Quitman 

Sharkey

Simpson

Smith

Sunflower

Tallahatchie

Tate

Tippah

Tunica

Union

Walthall

Warren

Washington

Wilkinson

Yalobusha

Yazoo

NONDISTRESSED

DeSoto

Hinds

Madison

Rankin

 

 Mississippi has a high rate of poverty, over twenty-four percent according to the U.S. 

Census Bureau’s latest calculation. Many of the DRA counties’ poverty rates exceed 30 percent.

Over 25,000 of the state’s population receive SNAP and/or TANF benefits. During January 

2015, over 14,000 people received Unemployment Insurance benefits. At the same time, the 

Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) registered over 40,000 unfilled jobs in 

its database. The challenge for the state in general, and DRA counties in particular, is to find a 

way to equip its citizens with the skills necessary to move them from dependence on public 

assistance to earning a living wage. 

SECTION A

Mississippi Challenges 

and Opportunities
Page 6

POPULATION

 The state of Mississippi has seen a modest growth in population since 2000, which 

includes an overall growth in Mississippi Delta Regional Authority counties. (See Table 1) The 

net growth in the Mississippi DRA population is driven by large gains within a few of the 

Mississippi DRA counties; specifically, DeSoto, Madison, Rankin and Lafayette counties all had 

population growth exceeding twenty-five percent since 2000. Twenty-nine Mississippi DRA 

counties experienced losses in population, five of which lost more than twenty percent of their 

population in the last fourteen years. 

Table 1 ‐ US, Mississippi, MS DRA Region, and County Populations for MS DRA Region

              

Geography 2000 Census 2010 Census 2014 ACS % Change 2000  

to 2014

United States 281,421,906 308,745,538 314,107,084 11.61%

Mississippi 2,844,658 2,967,297 2,984,345 4.91%

MS DRA Region

Total 1,513,266 1,578,569 1,583,077 4.61%

              

Adams 34,340 32,297 32,189 (6.26%)

Amite 13,599 13,131 12,957 (4.72%)

Attala 19,661 19,564 19,303 (1.82%)

Benton 8,026 8,729 8,573 6.82%

Bolivar 40,633 34,145 33,961 (16.42%)

Carroll 10,769 10,597 10,418 (3.26%)

Claiborne 11,831 9,604 9,396 (20.58%)

Coahoma 30,622 26,151 25,527 (16.64%)

Copiah 28,757 29,449 29,028 0.94%

Covington 19,407 19,568 19,495 0.45%

DeSoto 107,199 161,252 166,266 55.10%

Franklin 8,448 8,118 7,944 (5.97%)

Grenada 23,263 21,906 21,660 (6.89%)

Hinds 250,800 245,285 246,364 (1.77%)

Holmes 21,609 19,198 18,965 (12.24%)

Humphreys 11,206 9,375 9,106 (18.74%)

Issaquena 2,274 1,406 1,279 (43.76%)

Jasper 18,149 17,062 16,687 (8.06%)

Jefferson 9,740 7,726 7,634 (21.62%)

Jefferson Davis 13,962 12,487 12,100 (13.34%)

Lafayette 38,744 47,351 50,256 29.71%

Lawrence 13,258 12,929 12,636 (4.69%)

Leflore 37,947 32,317 31,772 (16.27%)
Page 7

Table 1 ‐ US, Mississippi, MS DRA Region, and County Populations for MS DRA Region

              

Geography 2000 Census 2010 Census 2014 ACS % Change 2000  

to 2014

Lincoln 33,166 34,869 34,824 5.00%

Madison 74,674 95,203 98,622 32.07%

Marion 25,595 27,088 26,449 3.34%

Marshall 34,993 37,144 36,636 4.70%

Montgomery 12,189 10,925 10,634 (12.76%)

Panola 34,274 34,707 34,507 0.68%

Pike 38,940 40,404 40,209 3.26%

Quitman 10,117 8,223 7,902 (21.89%)

Rankin 115,327 141,617 145,483 26.15%

Sharkey 6,580 4,916 4,898 (25.56%)

Simpson 27,639 27,503 27,425 (0.77%)

Smith 16,182 16,491 16,344 1.00%

Sunflower 34,369 29,450 28,314 (17.62%)

Tallahatchie 14,903 15,378 15,124 1.48%

Tate 25,370 28,886 28,557 12.56%

Tippah 20,826 22,232 22,069 5.97%

Tunica 9,227 10,778 10,583 14.70%

Union 25,362 27,134 27,536 8.57%

Walthall 15,156 15,443 15,126 (0.20%)

Warren 49,644 48,773 48,291 (2.73%)

Washington 62,977 51,137 50,038 (20.55%)

Wilkinson 10,312 9,878 9,481 (8.06%)

Yalobusha 13,051 12,678 12,433 (4.74%)

Yazoo 28,149 28,065 28,076 (0.26%)

At the same time, the population of counties in the Mississippi DRA declined as a 

percentage of Mississippi’s total population. This trend is driven by large growth in a few 

counties.
Page 8

Chart 1 ‐

Total Po

In

$35,606,

Table 2: P

A

United S

Mississip

Mississip

Adams

Amite

Attala

Benton

Bolivar

Carroll

Claiborn

Coahom

Copiah

8

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n 2014, the M

which is on

Per Capita Inc

Area

States 

ppi

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e

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Mississippi D

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2000 

30,602

21,582

21,714

21,534

17,968

17,968

15,712

17,596

18,799

15,748

20,187

16,982

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A Counties

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2 70.5%

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8 58.7%

8 58.7%

2 51.3%

6 57.5%

9 61.4%

8 51.5%

7 66.0%

2 55.5%

ion Trends 19

age of MS Pop

INCOME

es registered

erage PCI of

2010 

40,277

30,783

31,278

29,908

27,358

25,338

22,323

28,912

26,560

27,520

27,685

27,105

900 through

pulation        

d an average 

f $46,049. 

% of 

US

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77.7%

74.3%

67.9%

62.9%

55.4%

71.8%

65.9%

68.3%

68.7%

67.3%

2014              

         Source:

per capita in

2014 

46,049

34,431

35,606

34,908

32,765

29,516

26,032

33,377

30,262

29,086

30,037

31,151

                       

US Census B

ncome (PCI)

% of 

US

100.0%

74.8%

77.3%

75.8%

71.2%

64.1%

56.5%

72.5%

65.7%

63.2%

65.2%

67.6%

               

Bureau

) of 
Page 9

Area 2000 

% of 

US 2010 

% of 

US 2014 

% of 

US

Covington 17,360 56.7% 28,159 69.9% 33,275 72.3%

DeSoto 26,545 86.7% 32,623 81.0% 36,242 78.7%

Franklin 15,862 51.8% 26,864 66.7% 29,962 65.1%

Grenada 20,472 66.9% 29,501 73.2% 33,574 72.9%

Hinds 25,413 83.0% 35,566 88.3% 38,344 83.3%

Holmes 13,593 44.4% 24,014 59.6% 26,308 57.1%

Humphreys 18,403 60.1% 28,047 69.6% 31,808 69.1%

Issaquena 13,082 42.7% 23,586 58.6% 25,516 55.4%

Jasper 17,160 56.1% 29,176 72.4% 35,207 76.5%

Jefferson 12,469 40.7% 26,238 65.1% 30,198 65.6%

Jefferson Davis 15,565 50.9% 25,429 63.1% 30,213 65.6%

Lafayette 21,862 71.4% 31,734 78.8% 34,703 75.4%

Lawrence 21,145 69.1% 28,163 69.9% 32,780 71.2%

Leflore 18,218 59.5% 28,900 71.8% 31,917 69.3%

Lincoln 20,307 66.4% 30,549 75.8% 34,964 75.9%

Madison 32,949 107.7% 48,308 119.9% 58,604 127.3%

Marion 17,504 57.2% 26,486 65.8% 32,338 70.2%

Marshall 17,783 58.1% 24,710 61.4% 28,009 60.8%

Montgomery 18,114 59.2% 27,844 69.1% 31,665 68.8%

Panola 17,597 57.5% 25,851 64.2% 29,585 64.2%

Pike 18,815 61.5% 26,360 65.4% 29,761 64.6%

Quitman 15,042 49.2% 24,658 61.2% 27,921 60.6%

Rankin 26,965 88.1% 35,606 88.4% 39,994 86.9%

Sharkey 15,955 52.1% 25,749 63.9% 30,511 66.3%

Simpson 18,646 60.9% 28,894 71.7% 34,710 75.4%

Smith 20,230 66.1% 26,948 66.9% 32,824 71.3%

Sunflower 16,188 52.9% 24,626 61.1% 26,863 58.3%

Tallahatchie 15,636 51.1% 21,897 54.4% 29,269 63.6%

Tate 21,494 70.2% 27,515 68.3% 31,570 68.6%

Tippah 19,550 63.9% 25,080 62.3% 29,137 63.3%

Tunica 17,120 55.9% 26,919 66.8% 31,570 68.6%

Union 20,074 65.6% 25,162 62.5% 30,096 65.4%

Walthall 16,335 53.4% 23,676 58.8% 28,678 62.3%

Warren 25,722 84.1% 33,375 82.9% 36,623 79.5%

Washington 18,955 61.9% 29,022 72.1% 32,475 70.5%

Wilkinson 14,687 48.0% 24,176 60.0% 26,304 57.1%

Yalobusha 18,842 61.6% 26,237 65.1% 29,883 64.9%

Yazoo 17,905 58.5% 24,819 61.6% 27,588 59.9%
Page 1

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Page 12

SECTION B: GOALS, PRIORITIES AND PROGRAMS 

Governor Bryant’s top priorities for Mississippi are job creation, workforce development, 

quality education at all levels, and sustainable communities with a high quality of life. To 

achieve these priorities, Mississippi will focus on (1) public infrastructure; (2) intermodal 

transportation; (3) workforce training; and, (4) community competitiveness. These priorities are 

in alignment with the DRAs mission, principals, and priorities. 

PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE: Basic public infrastructure, such as upgrading our 

wastewater treatment systems in distressed counties and isolated areas of distress 

 The State of Mississippi must have an infrastructure that supports economic growth in 

distressed or isolated areas. 

State Strategies 

 The state will pursue community infrastructure development strategies to grow the state 

economy and encourage job creation and private capital investment. Because we know 

that community development precedes economic development, the State will also pursue 

strategies to foster vibrant communities through investment in basic public infrastructure 

and financial support for local health, safety and quality of life improvements. 

 The state will increase access to low-cost high-speed internet, especially in rural areas. 

 The state will improve access to capital funding for the purpose of expanding economic 

development projects in the DRA distressed areas. 

INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION: Transportation infrastructure for the purpose of 

facilitating economic development in the region 

The State of Mississippi relies on a well-maintained and efficient transportation system to 

support economic vitality in the region. The State shall pursue opportunities to foster the growth 

and development of an intermodal transportation network to include all forms of public/private 

commercial and non-commercial transportation means. 

State Strategies 

 The state will pursue transportation network improvements and business development 

activities including, but not limited to the intermodal needs of the region. 

 In-land ports 

 Airports

 Public Carrier 

 Roadways

 Railways 

SECTION B

Goals, Priorities 

and Programs
Page 13

WORKFORCE TRAINING: Training to support local business needs

Successful workforce training requires partnerships between MDES, MDA, PDDs, 

community colleges, universities, K-12 educators, employers and other stakeholders. The new 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) mandates partnerships between these 

stakeholders and other state agencies for the purpose of moving individuals from public assistance 

into the workforce through training. 

To respond to the challenges and opportunities of the global economy, workers must 

continually build skills, knowledge, and experience. Students, the unemployed and low-skilled 

workers must have access to training programs, which provide them with the skills required by 

business. The Delta Region must train for 21st Century skillsets. Business location and expansion 

decisions are increasingly based on the presence of a talented workforce. The K-12, community 

college, and university systems along with WIN Job Centers and other publicly supported training 

programs are critical to the success of this goal. 

State Strategies

 Place more emphasis on industry-focused short-term, credential based training programs 

and two-year degree programs that provide the regions with a qualified and quantifiable 

labor pool, which aids greatly in the recruitment of new business. 

 The Workforce Investment Areas should work with MDA, local economic developers, 

community colleges, and other stakeholders to identify highest priority target industries 

for the region, assess the relevant skills that are necessary for those targeted industries, 

and then ensure alignment between workforce training programs offered and the skills 

demanded by target industries. 

 Reduce dropout rate through expanded dropout prevention and school-to-work programs 

for at-risk and disadvantaged youth, such as our Jobs for Mississippi Graduates initiative. 

 Expand GED programs, which also offer industry-based certifications. 

 Increase STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs in K-12 to 

encourage students to become engineers, healthcare specialists, scientists, etc. 

 Implement Work Ready Community initiatives, which provide individuals with industry 

recognized certificates and aid in business recruitment efforts. 

 Upgrade the training delivery capabilities of community colleges to reach rural 

participants (ex. Mobile training labs and online learning). 

 Support innovative healthcare programs such as nursing externships, simulation 

equipment, and telehealth training programs. 

 Utilize state agency databases to identify potential candidates for training among TANF 

and SNAP recipients and people with disabilities. 
Page 14

COMMUNITY COMPETITIVENESS: Community leadership training to improve skills to 

focus on building communities that can effectively compete for economic development 

opportunities and grow their local economies 

The MDA, along with other partners, will work with communities to increase the local 

leadership skills and in developing community strategic plans. These plans will help them take 

advantage of available assets, make connections with other resources and aid leaders in becoming 

more competitive economic developers. This will be accomplished through improved industrial 

recruitment practices, better understanding of long-term planning and building strong working 

relationships with key support organizations. 

State Strategies 

 The State will pursue training opportunities to build up the competitiveness of 

communities through increased leadership and planning skills of local leadership. This 

program will be presented in a series of workshops designed to provide real world 

guidance, best practices, and tools to grow their economies and help build relationships 

between local leaders and the MDA. Leaders within the DRA region will have the 

opportunity to inform the MDA of their communities’ accomplishments and problems. 

They will cover the following topics: 

o Industrial recruitment 

o Financial assistance 

o Long-term planning 

o Improving Request for Proposals (RFP) and Request for Information (RFI) responses 

o Identifying and capitalizing on existing assets (creative economy, tourism, crafts 

industries, etc.) 

o Leadership development 

o Relationship building 

o Improving quality of life and services 

o Economic gardening to identify and capitalize on existing industry growth potential 

 The State will pursue economic development initiatives targeted, but not limited to the 

following industry sectors, with a particular focus on communities in distressed and 

isolated areas: 

o Advanced Manufacturing 

o Aerospace

o Agribusiness and Food Processing

o Automotive 

o Energy

o Health Care 

o Shipbuilding 

o Tourism and Film 

o Distribution and Warehousing 

o Data Centers and Information Technology 
Page 15

SECTION C: ALIGNMENT OF STATE PRIORITIES WITH DRA 

DRA has a mission to eliminate the chronic economic distress of the region and, thereby, 

bring its 252 counties into full partnership with America’s future. 

The authorizing statute for the Delta Regional Authority provides that the state’s 

development plan reflect DRA’s mission, goals, and guiding principles. Those guiding principles 

are: 

 The most valuable investment that can be made in the Region is in its people. 

 Entrepreneurial economies that focus on high-value-added goods and services offer the 

best future for many parts of the Region. 

 Strategies and objectives should take into consideration participation in the global 

economy. 

 Economic development should be community-based and should emphasize local decisionmaking. 

 DRA investments should take advantage of technology and telecommunications 

applications. 

 DRA should promote an atmosphere of open and productive communication among all 

stakeholders in the Region.

 DRA should focus special attention on the areas of greatest need.

The DRA authorizing statute also provides that federal funds used for economic and 

community development “shall be focused on the activities in the following order or priority:

 Basic public infrastructure in distressed counties and isolated areas of distress.

 Transportation infrastructure for the purpose of facilitating economic development in the 

region.

 Business development, with emphasis on entrepreneurship. 

 Job training or employment-related education, with emphasis on use of existing public 

educational institutions located in the region.”

The statute further provides that 75% of funds should be allocated to distressed counties 

and isolated regions. The Delta Regional Authority’s goals are as follows: 

 Workforce Competitiveness – Advance the productivity and economic competitiveness of 

the Delta workforce; 

 Infrastructure – Strength the Delta’s physical and digital connections to the global 

economy; and 

 Community Development – Facilitate local capacity building within Delta communities. 

Mississippi’s priorities reflect DRA’s mission, principles, and priorities and will be 

particularly true for the distressed counties and isolation regions of the Mississippi Delta Region. 

SECTION C

Alignment of State 

Priorities with DRA
Page 16

SECTION D: STATE RESOURCES 

The State of Mississippi has many challenges to economic development for every region 

of the state. High unemployment, low per capita income and loss of population in many DRA 

counties increase the challenges in the Mississippi DRA. 

 The state will leverage its investment in the people of the DRA to create a skilled and 

work-ready labor force for the region. The state will replicate or expand some of its successes to 

accomplish this goal. 

Education Successes 

 Jobs for Mississippi Graduates – this program targets at-risk youth to help them stay in 

school; so far, 95% of these at risk students have stayed in school, with 82% going to 

college, a career or the military. 

 MSGradJobs.com is a website that connects graduates of Mississippi’s public and private 

colleges and universities with employers hiring in the state. 

 Last year, Mississippi 4th graders lead the nation in math and reading improvement 

 Over 90% of Mississippi 3rd graders passed their reading tests. 

 As our General Fund grew, Mississippi invested an additional $400 million in K-12 

education, including $100 million in teacher pay raises. 

Community & Health Successes 

 In 2014, each of the 14 Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) developed Mobile 

Crisis Response Teams to provide community-based crisis services that deliver solutionfocused and recovery-oriented behavioral health assessments and stabilization of crisis in 

the location where the individual is experiencing the crisis. The service is available 

statewide. 

 MDHS Partnered with the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) to 

pilot colocations of their staff and MDHS Field Operation staff in an effort to insure 

applicants and recipients are fully engaged in finding employment. The first located office

is Hancock County.

Economic Successes 

 Gov. Bryant was named one of the 15 Best Governors for Recruiting Private Sector Jobs 

according to “On Numbers,” a national business publication. 

 To strengthen Mississippi’s economy, the governor has signed bills to: 

o Create the Mississippi job training grant for private businesses; 

o Establish a pilot program to allow at-risk high school students to learn a trade; 

o Establish a committee of small businessmen and women to recommend changes to 

state regulations on businesses; 

SECTION D

State 

Resources
Page 17

o Provide for tax credits to offset the inventory tax; and 

o Direct $12 million to workforce enhancement training without raising the 

unemployment tax 

 Mississippi is ranked in the #3 state in export growth and the #2 best state for the cost of 

doing business, according to the U.S. Chamber Foundation. 

 In the past four years, MDA projects have brought over 21,000 jobs and $3 billion of private 

investment into the state. 

 Mississippi’s ROI for dollars spent to incentivize industry generated eleven dollars for every 

dollar spent. 

Workforce Development Successes 

 Mississippi was the first state to bring all the necessary partners together to compile and 

submit its Workforce Innovation and Opportunity action plan to the U.S. Department of 

Labor.

 MDES has transferred over $213 million to the Workforce Enhancement Training (WET) 

Fund for workforce training programs. 

 In 2015, over 30,000 people found work through their local WIN Job Centers. 

 Mississippi has leveraged technology that provides its citizens with greater access to job 

openings, support services and benefits. 

o Mississippiworks.org

o MSWorks mobile app 

o 2FILEUI mobile app 

 South Delta Planning & Development District received a $50,000 from the Foundation for the 

Mid-South for workforce support services. 
Page 18

SECTION E: LOOKING AHEAD 

Governor Bryant’s top priority for the state is job creation. He will continue to push 

workforce development, improvements in our educational system, intermodal transportation 

projects, and infrastructure projects that increase opportunities and the quality of life for every 

Mississippian. 

Intermodal Transportation 

 Gov. Bryant established the GoCoast2020 Commission to help define priorities for 

restoration of the coast in the aftermath of the Deep Water Horizon accident. Based on the 

committee’s recommendations, he announced proposed infrastructure projects in 

November 2015. Although these projects are earmarked for the coast, they support any 

Mississippian doing business with, providing services to or shipping products from the 

area.

o Stennis International Airport Hangar ($2 million) – The proposed hangar facility will 

increase the capability of Stennis International Airport to provide aeronautical services 

to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 

o Port Bienville Trans-Loading Dock Completion ($8 million) – The proposed Port 

Bienville Trans-Loading Dock Completion Project would improve the terminal use for 

trans-loading, become functional for containers on barge operations, extend an 

existing rail line, and be used to support supply vessels in the offshore industry. 

Workforce Development 

Mississippi intends that the following GoCoast2020 Commission projects will serve as pilots 

for similar Delta Regional Authority funded workforce development projects. 

 Recommendations from the GoCoast2020 Commission will provide training dollars for 

specific areas of workforce development training. 

o Work-Ready Community Program ($4 million) – The proposed Mississippi Gulf 

Coast Work-Ready Community Program is designed to aid coastal citizens in the 

attainment of basic skills, employability skills, and specific industry skills that are 

needed in high-demand industry sectors. This project could be expanded to other 

parts of the state including DRA counties. 

o Support for William Carey University School of Pharmacy ($1 million) – The 

proposed project will support William Carey University in establishing its School 

of Pharmacy on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 

 The governor supports a bill introduced in the 2016 legislature: 

o To divert $50 million from the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to community 

colleges to modernize equipment and move students into workforce training for 

middle-skill jobs. Mississippi consistently retains one of the most solvent UI Trust 

Funds in the nation at over $500 million. 

SECTION E

Looking 

Ahead
Page 19

Education

 Governor Bryant is recommending changes in the Mississippi education system that will 

strengthen the accountability of school districts and give parents greater choice in their 

children’s education. The two bills before the legislature would:

o Call for the election of school boards that will appoint the superintendent.

o Allow parents to choose what school to send their children regardless of district 

boundaries.

Infrastructure 

 Mississippi will invest in infrastructure projects that improve the communities and the 

quality of life for the people who live in them.

o Upgrade wastewater treatment systems in distressed and rural counties.

o Increase access to low-cost high-speed internet that provides all citizens access to 

online benefits and learning programs.